BEIJING, China – There’s a new flagship Golf around and it’s making waves at the 2014 China auto show in the form of the Golf R 400 concept. If its name isn’t anything to go by, the 400 referring to the horsepower value of 294kW, then its looks certainly can tell a story with its flared wheel arches and assertive bumpers that will make any car ahead of it move out of the way. MORE POWER Volkswagen says the concept is based on the standard Golf R hatchback with its turbocharged 220kW engine and 4Motion all-wheel drive.

The Golf R 400 ups the ante with an extra 74kW and 70Nm taking the power figures up to 294kW/450Nm available from 2400 to 6000rpm. Developed by Volkswagen R GmbH, the cool guys responsible for high-power and customisation projects, the Golf R 400 uses a modified version of the engine found in the Golf R: a two litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine. VW RGmbH said: “The extra power of the 400 helps propel the six-speed DSG-equipped version to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, a whole second faster than its 220k sibling. Its top speed is governed at 280km/h. The extra power comes from a turbocharger with a higher maximum charge pressure and reinforced crankcase, says VW. TOUCH OF YESTERYEAR Each car weighs 1420kg, but the concept’s appearance has been substantially altered.

The body is 20mm wider on each side, with flared wheel arches that are reminiscent of those on the 1988 Rallye Golf G60. The car is painted in a silver metallic with a contrasting black roof and carbon door-mirror caps and new sill extensions bridge the gap between the widened arches; 19” alloy rims fill the arches. Even the standard ‘Cadiz’ wheels have been modified with gloss back inserts that act as air vanes to help cool the reinforced braking system. The tyres are 235/35 R19s. The front bumper has been completely redesigned to benefit the greater cooling requirements of the R 400. A carbon-fibre splitter and aerodynamic ‘wing element’ help to push air towards the honeycomb mesh of the grille. VW adds that the ‘R’ badge on the gloss black radiator grille sits on a ‘Lemon Yellow’ background, while the horizontal stripe across the grille – which, like the chromed strip on the Golf R, continues into the bi-xenon headlights – is also in the same yellow paint.

The re-designed rear bumper includes vents on each side and the Golf R’s four tailpipes have been replaced with two centrally mounted pipes, like those on the 2002 Golf R32. A black double spoiler with LED brake lights sit on top of the tailgate. Inside are motorsport shell seats with head restraints and belt openings, upholstered in cross-quilted panels covered in Alcantara, and ‘carbon leather’. Stitching throughout the interior is in contrasting yellow. Volkswagen says the Golf R 400 is only a concept for now, with no production plans on the table.